We've been ruminating on the idea of a series like this for a while at Android Police, and today, we're finally taking the plunge. Want to know the Android apps, tools, and hardware the editors of Android Police use day to day? Now you can! I mean, if you want to know. We won't be offended if you don't. Promise.

So, how's this going to work? We're going to start with hardware, then get into apps.

You made your nominations, and you voted. Now we have a winner. The Andy for Best Non-Nexus Android Phone of 2011 goes to...

Best Non-Nexus Android Phone Of 2011: Readers' Choice

The Samsung Galaxy S II.

This really comes as no surprise. The Samsung Galaxy S II is still one of the most powerful handsets on the market, and with an Ice Cream Sandwich update inbound sometime in the coming year, it's only going to get better.

We've all seen "roundup" lists of smartphones before: who's got the best display, who has the quickest processor, the newest OS revision, the biggest battery - but let's face facts: that kind of stuff is for nerds (like all of us here at AP - and most of our wonderful readers). So we're going to try out something new - call it a pilot episode, if you will.

When you're attempting to convince the less geeky folks you know that they should pick up an Android phone, it can be a tough sell.